An electrical active unit for generating a physical effect, textile element including the same and method for fabricating said electrical active unit

ABSTRACT

An electrical active unit (100) for generating a physical effect such as heat, cold or light emission, with a particular application to a temperature regulation system for regulating the temperature of a body, or to a light emission system to be worn by such a portion of a body. The electrical active unit (100) comprises a textile support (102) supporting: an active element (101) adapted for generating said physical effect; at least one electrical connection point (104) adapted to be connected to a power source and a controlling unit, and located on said active element (101); a sensor (106) adapted for being connected to the power source and the controlling unit, such that the electrical active unit may be connected to the power source and the controlling unit via the connection point in order to allow the powering of the active element by the power source and the activation/deactivation of said active element by the controlling unit depending on data sensed by the sensor. The textile support (102) has a first face and a second face opposite to said first face, the at least one connection point (104) being located solely on the first face, the active element (101) being embedded in the textile support (102) so as to form a determined pattern on the first and second faces. The pattern can avoid electrical current discharged from the connection points (104) through the second face, thereby avoiding direct contact between the skin and hot spots located at connection points (104).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrical active unit for generating a physical effect such as heat, cold or light emission, with a particular application to a temperature regulation system for regulating the temperature of a portion of a body, in particular of a user's body, or to alight emission system to be worn by such a portion of a body.

The invention also relates to a textile elementsuch as a clothing, a garment or a cover, including said electrical active unit, and a method for fabricating said electrical active unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical active units, such as ones to be integrated in a garment, can be used for example for thermal regulation. Thermal comfort is indeed driven by the temperature inside a person's body and the temperature at the surface of the body. People become uncomfortable in a thermal sense when the environment changes for example, increased wind or extra sunny day, or when a person moves to a cooler place. In common situations, discomfort in a thermal sense is felt by a user when the user's skin temperature changes, rather than a change in core body temperature.

Some conventional chemical or electric heating systems used in clothing can deliver heat at relatively high levels. Most currently available devices consist of a wearable garment with heating pads as active elements, that can be manually adjusted by the user, or automatically by a control unit which is connected to a temperature sensor.

Such a garment comprises a piece of textile integrating the electrical and/or electronical elements, which is sewed to the textile of the garment. This type of solution leads to a garment with a too high rigidity, which in turn leads to a discomfort for the user.

Besides, the electronics,such as the heating elements, the temperature sensor, and the connection wires, is generally integrated in such a way that it is sandwiched between different layers of textile or other material, which is harming to the breathability of the garment.

The above is all the same true when dealing with electrical active unit with other functions than temperature regulation. For example, instead of using a heating element (or cooling element) as an active element and therefore generating heat as a physical effect, one may use lighting element in an application where it is desired to have the garment emitting light, as a physical effect, in some circumstances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims therefore at solving the above mentioned problems, amongst other problems.

To this end, the invention proposes an electrical active unit for generating a physical effect, that is easy to integrate on or into a textile element such as a garment.

According to a first aspect, the object of the invention is an electrical active unit for generating a physical effect such as heat, cold or light emission, comprisinga textile support supporting:

at least one active element adapted for generating said physical effect;

at least one electrical connection point adapted to be connected to a power source and a controlling unit, and located on said active element;

at least one sensor adapted for being connected to the power source and the controlling unit,

such that the electrical active unit may be connected to the power source and a controlling unit via the connection pointin order to allow the powering of the active element by the power source and the activation/deactivation of said active element by the controlling unit depending on data sensed by the sensor.

The textile support has a first face and a second face opposite to said first face, the at least one connection point being located solely on the first face, the active element being embedded in the textile supportso as to form a determined pattern on the first and second faces.

With the electrical active unit of the invention, in an application where it is integrated in a textile element adapted to be worn by a body, only the face adapted to be in contact with the surface of the body is visible. The external surface of the textile element can be free from any of the components of the electrical active unit. The electrical elements such as the electrical connection points, or other electronical components, are located on the other face.

In some embodiments, the electrical active unit further comprises one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any technically possible combination:

-   -   the textile support supports a connection pad adapted to be         connected to a power source and a controlling unit, and located         solely on the first face, the active element being connected to         the connection pad via at least one first connection wire         connecting the connection point to said connection pad;     -   the textile support supports a connection pad adapted to be         connected to a power source and a controlling unit, and located         solely on the first face, the sensor being connected to the         connection pad via at least one second connection wire;     -   the first and/or second connection wires are stitched,         preferably using an embroidery technique, most preferably using         an embroidery technique in a horse-shoe lace shape, on the first         face of the textile support;     -   the first and/or second wires are covered with a piece of         textile stitched or glued on the first face of the textile         support;     -   the first and/or second connection wires are disposed on the         first face of the textile support, preferably in a horse-shoe         lace shape, and maintained in position on said first face by an         adhesive piece, such as a piece of textile or a polymer strip;     -   the first and/or second connection wires are stitched,         preferably using an embroidery technique, most preferably using         an embroidery technique in a horse-shoe lace shape, on a piece         of textile stitched or glued on the first face of the textile         support;     -   the sensor is adapted for being connected wirelessly to the         power source and/or the controlling unit;     -   the sensor is coated in an adhesive material and sandwiched in         an adhesive tape, and the textile support comprises on its first         face an adhesive patch, the sensor being attached on said         adhesive patch;     -   the connection point comprises a first metallic piece disposed         on the first face of the textile support, and the electrical         active unit comprises a second metallic piece disposed on the         second face of the textile support and covered by an         electrically non-conductive patch, the first and second metallic         pieces being crimped with one another;     -   the connection point comprises an adhesive electrically         conducting patch disposed between the first metallic piece and         the active element;     -   the electrical active unit is a unit for emitting heat in order         to regulate the temperature of a body, the active element being         a heating element, the sensor being a temperature sensor, the         heating element comprising electrically conductive yarns knitted         with the textile yarns of the textile support so as to form the         determined pattern on the first and second faces of the textile         support.

According to a second aspect, the object of the invention is a textile element, such as a clothing, garment or cover, adapted to be worn by at least a part of a body, wherein said textile element comprises an electricalactive unit as presented above.

In some embodiments, the textile element further comprises one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any technically possible combination:

-   -   the textile support is a part of said textile element;     -   the textile element has an inner face adapted to be oriented         towards at least a part of a body wearing said textile element,         and an outer face opposite to said inner face, the textile         support being attached through its first or second faces to one         of said inner and outer faces of the textile element;     -   the textile support is attached through its first or second         faces to the inner face of the textile element;     -   the textile support is attached through its first face to the         inner face of the textile element, such that the active element         and the sensor may be oriented towards said part of the body         wearing said textile element, and that the connection point may         be oriented towards the inner face of the textile element;     -   the textile support is attached through its first or second         faces to the outer face of the textile element;     -   the textile support is attached through its first face to the         outer face of the textile element, such that the active element         and the sensor may be oriented opposite, with respect to said         textile element, to said part of the body wearing said textile         element, and that the connection point may be oriented towards         the outer face of the textile element.

According to a third aspect, the object of the invention is a method for fabricating an electricalactive unit adapted for generating a physical effect such as heat, cold or light emission.

The method comprises:

-   -   embedding an active element,adapted for generating said physical         effect, into a textile support;     -   attaching an electrical connection point, adapted to be         connected to a power source and a controlling unit, to the         textile support so as said connection point be located on said         active element;     -   attaching a sensor, adapted to be connected to the power source         and the controlling unit,to the textile support,

-   such that the electrical active unit may be connected to the power     source and the controlling unit via the connection pointin order to     allow the powering of the active element by the power source and the     activation/deactivation of said active element by the controlling     unit depending on data sensed by the sensor.

The textile support has a first face and a second face opposite to said first face, the at least one connection point being attached to the textile support so as to be located solely on the first face, and the active element being embedded in the textile support so as to form a determined pattern on the first and second faces.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any technically possible combination:

-   -   the active element is a heating element, the sensor is a         temperature sensor, embedding the active element into the         textile support comprises knitting electrically conductive yarns         and textile yarns to form the textile support with the heating         element as the determined pattern on the first and second faces         of said textile support.     -   attaching the temperature sensor to the textile support         comprises attaching said sensor to the heating element;     -   attaching the said sensor to the heating element comprises         coating the sensor into an adhesive material, sandwiching the         sensor in an adhesive tape, attaching to the first face of the         textile support an adhesive patch, and attaching the sensor on         said adhesive patch.

DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages may be better understood by referring to the description which follows, given as example and for illustrative purpose only, and by referring to the accompanying drawings listed below:

FIG. 1: schematic representation of an example of electrical active unit according to the invention;

FIG. 2: shows one of the faces of another example of electrical active unit according to the invention;

FIG. 3: shows the other face of the example of electrical active unit of FIG. 1, with the connection pad open to show internal details of the latter;

FIG. 4: shows the electrical active unit of FIGS. 2 and 3 integrated on a shirt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present description deals with an example of an electrical active unit for generating a physical effect which is a heating effect, without limiting the invention to such an embodiment. The scope of the invention extends to other electrical active units for generating other physical effect, such as cooling or light emission. Depending of the active element used, the generated effect changes. In the present description, as will be described further below, the active element is a heating element.

Therefore, unless specified otherwise, in the present description, the use of the expressions “temperature regulation unit”, “temperature sensor” or “heating element” is only an illustration for any type of electrical active unit, sensor, and active element able to generate a physical effect.

In the schematic representation of the example of FIG. 1, an electrical active unit 100 is represented, which is a temperature regulation unit 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature regulation system 100 comprises a textile support 102 which supports a heating element 101, a temperature sensor 106 attached to the heating element 101, and connection points 104, for example via a thermo-adhesive band 107.

In this example, the temperature sensor 106 transfers data to and receives power from an external power source via power and data wires 108.

The temperature regulating unit 100 can be integrated to a textile element, such as a clothing or garment, for example by stitching or thermo-gluing with a stretch thermo-adhesive band 109.

The pattern of the heating element 101 is designed to provide the best heat-to-electrical-power ratio in the most uniform way across a given surface. Depending on the power source, the constraint in available power may be less important, such that a simpler pattern may be used, for example a full square or rectangle.

In a specific embodiment, the heating element 101 is formed of electrically conductive yarns knitted with the textile yarns of the textile support 100.

Preferably, depending on the knitting machine used, the minimal distance between two horizontal elements in the pattern of the heating element 101 is 1 cm, and the minimal distance between two vertical elements in the pattern of the heating element 101 is 4 cm. This allows, when knitting the heating element 101, to automatically cut the excess of yarn, and thus avoid having to do so manually.

However, the smaller the distance between the elements of the pattern of the heating element 101, the higher efficiency. Therefore, if the knitting machine allows it without the obligation to manually cut the excess of yarn, a full square or rectangle can be used for the pattern as already mentioned above.

In an example, one can use electrically conductive yarns such as silver-platted yarns, with a synthetic coating forfacilitating the passage in the knitting machine.

In presence of technical constraints due to the knitting machine and/or a limited amount of available power, the pattern for the heating element 101 as explained above and illustrated in FIG. 1 is an efficient solution to virtually increase the surface of the body affected by the heating.

With variation of these technical constraints, other patterns may be used, from the simplest one such as a full square orrectangle, to an even more complicated one than the one illustrated in FIG. 1.

Although it is preferable to have an electrical element 101 with a symmetrical pattern, one may use a non-symmetrical pattern when geometric uniformity of the heat is not an issue.

More generally, FIG. 1 illustrates thus an electrical active unit 100 for generating a physical effect,which is heat in this example, which comprises a textile support 102.

This textile support 102 is for supporting one or more active elements 101 adapted for generating said physical effect, which are in this example heating elements 101, one or more electrical connection points 104 (two in this example), and one or more sensors 106 (one in this example) located on the active element 101.

The connection points 104 are adapted to be connected to a power source and a controlling unit.

The sensor 106 is also adapted for being connected to the power source and the controlling unit.

The electrical active unit 100 may thus be connected to the power source and the controlling unit via the connection points 104, directly or via connection wires 105, 108,in order to allow the powering of the active element 101 by the power source and the activation/deactivation of this active element 101 by the controlling unit depending on data sensed by the sensor 106.

As it will be explained in more details in reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the textile support 102 has a first face (visible on FIG. 3) and a second face (visible on FIG. 2) opposite to the first face. The connection points 104 are located solely on the first face, thus visible on FIG. 3. In FIG. 2, the connection points 104 are not visible because adhesive patches 110 are positioned opposite to the connection points 104, in order to avoid electrical current discharged from the connection points through the second face, thereby avoiding direct contact between the skin and hot spots located at connection points 104.

The active element 101 is embedded in the textile support 102 so as to form a determined pattern on the first and second faces.

In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the textile support 102 supports a connection pad 103. This connection pad 103 isadapted to be connected to the power source and the controlling unit through connection elements 112, and located solely on the first face, thus visible on FIG. 3 (opened in order to show internal details). The reference 103 is also present in FIG. 2 to designate a textile patch positioned opposite to the connection pad 103, in order to avoid electrical current discharged from the electrical connection elements 112 in this connection pad 103 through the second face.

As mentioned above, in the example of FIGS. 1 to 3, the active element 101 is connected to the connection pad 103 via one or more connection wires 105 which connect therespective connection points 104 to this connection pad 103.

Besides, the sensor 106 is connected to the connection pad 103 via at least one second connection wire 108.

The first and second connection wires 105, 108 are only visible on the first face, on FIG. 3. In this example, these first and second connection wires 105, 108 are stitched, preferably using an embroidery technique, on the first face of the textile support 102. Precisely, in the example of FIG. 3, the embroidery technique used is an embroidery technique in a horse-shoe lace shape.

Alternatively, or in complement to the stitching of the first and second connection wires 105, 108 on the first face of the textile support 102, these first and/or second wires 105, 108 can be covered with a piece of textile itself stitched or glued on the first face of the textile support 102.

Alternatively again, the first and second connection wires 105, 108 can be simply positioned on the first face of the textile support 102, still preferably in a horse-shoe lace manner, and maintained in this position on the first face by an adhesive piece, such as a piece of textile or a polymer strip.

As can be seen in the example of FIG. 3, the connection wires 105, 108 connect to connection elements 112 in the connection pad 103, through an opening 111 in this connection pad 103.

In this FIG. 3, the connection pad 103 is represented opened, with a first part 113 on which the connection elements 112 are disposed, and a second part 114 which is due to be folded onto the first part 113. In the final configuration, as represented for example in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second part 114 is folded onto the first part 113, and maintained so thanks for example to an adhesive band along all or part of the sides of the first and/or second parts 113, 114 (visible in FIG. 3).

In alternative to the connection of the sensor 106 to the power source and/or to the controlling unit via the second connection wire 108 and the connection pad 103, this sensor 106 can also be adapted for being connected wirelessly to the power source and/or the controlling unit.

Preferably, the sensor 106 is coated in an adhesive material and sandwiched in an adhesive tape. The textile support 102 comprises on its first face an adhesive patch, and the sensor 106 is attached on this adhesive patch.

The connection points 104 can be of the type comprising a first metallic piece disposed on the first face of the textile support 102.The electrical active unit 100 comprises a second metallic piece disposed on the second face of the textile support 102 and covered by an electrically non-conductive patchalso referenced 104 on FIG. 2 as explained above.

The first and second metallic pieces are crimped with one another.

Preferably, an adhesive electrically conducting patch is disposed between the first metallic piece and the active element 101. This patch allows to increase the surface of electrical contact of the connection points, therefore their electrical conduction.

In FIG. 4 is represented an example of textile element, a shirt in this case, adapted to be worn by at least a part of a body, which comprises an electrical active unit 100 as presented above.

The textile element can be any type of clothing or garment, for a human or animal user. It can also be a cover adapted to cover or envelop a part of the body of a person or an animal, or an object such as a car seat or any type of seats.

The textile support 102 can be part of the textile element. For example, the textile support 102 can be one of the textile panel used for fabricating the textile element.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the textile support 2 can be attached by one of its first and second faces to one of the inner face, adapted to be oriented towards at least a part of the body wearing the textile element,and outer face, opposite to said inner face, of the textile element.

For example, as explained above, the textile support 2 can be attached to the textile element by stitching, or by thermo-gluing with a stretch thermo-adhesive band such as the band 109 illustrated in FIG. 1.

For example, such as illustrated in FIG. 4, the textile support 102 is attached through its first face to the inner face of the textile element. The active element 101 and the sensor 106 can then be oriented towards the part of the body wearing the textile element, and the connection point 104 can then be oriented towards the inner face of the textile element.

A layer, such as a piece of textile, can be used to cover the active element 101 and the sensor 106, such as to avoid the direct contact with the skin of the user which could be uncomfortable for the user and damageable for the active element 101 and/or the sensor 106. In that case, it is considered that the contact between the active element 101, or the sensor 106, and the skin of the user is indirect.

In another example, the textile support 102 is attached through its first face to the outer face of the textile element. The active element 101 and the sensor 106may then be oriented opposite, with respect to said textile element, tothe part of the body wearing the textile element, and the connection point 104can then be oriented towards the outer face of the textile element.

To fabricate theelectricalactive unit 100, the active element 101 is embedded into the textile support 102so as to form a determined pattern on the first and second faces of the textile support 102, the electrical connection points 104 are attached to the textile support 102 so as to be located on the active element 101 and solely on the first face of the textile support 102, and the sensor 106 is attachedto the textile support 102.

As already mentioned above, in the case of a temperature regulation unit with a heating element 101 embedded in the textile support 102, the active element 101 comprises electrically conductive yarns knitted with textile yarns to form the textile support 102 with theheating element 101 as the determined patternon the first and second faces of this textile support 102.

The temperature sensor 106 is preferably attached to the heating element 101, most preferably by coating the sensor 106 into an adhesive material, sandwiching this sensor 106 in an adhesive tape, attaching to the first face of the textile support 102 an adhesive patch, and attaching the sensor 106 on this adhesive patch.

The above description has been directed to specific embodiments of this invention which is, however, not limited to these embodiments described for purpose of example only. It will be apparent for the man of the art that other variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments, with obtaining some or all of their advantages. Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications.

In particular, the invention concerns not only a temperature regulation unit for regulating the temperature of a portion of a human or animal user's body, but more generally for regulating the temperature of a portion of any other body such as a container for receiving food or a liquid, a seat, etc. . . .

Also, the above description not only relates to temperature regulation, but more generally deals with an electrical active unit for generating, by means of an active element, a physical effect which can also be light emission for example. 

1. An electrical active unit for generating a physical effect, comprising a textile support supporting: at least one active element adapted for generating said physical effect; at least one electrical connection point adapted to be connected to a power source and a controlling unit, and located on said active element; at least one sensor adapted for being connected to the power source and the controlling unit, such that the electrical active unit may be connected to the power source and the controlling unit via the connection point in order to allow the powering of the active element by the power source and the activation/deactivation of said active element by the controlling unit depending on data sensed by the sensor, wherein the textile support has a first face and a second face opposite to said first face, the at least one connection point being located solely on the first face, the active element being embedded in the textile support so as to form a determined pattern on the first and second faces.
 2. The electrical active unit according to claim 1, wherein the textile support supports a connection pad adapted to be connected to a power source and a controlling unit, and located solely on the first face, the active element being connected to the connection pad via at least one first connection wire connecting the connection point to said connection pad.
 3. The electrical active unit according claim 1, wherein the textile support supports a connection pad adapted to be connected to a power source and a controlling unit, and located solely on the first face, the sensor being connected to the connection pad via at least one second connection wire.
 4. The electrical active unit according to claim 2, wherein the first and/or second connection wires are stitched on the first face of the textile support.
 5. The electrical active unit according to claim 2, wherein the first and/or second wires are covered with a piece of textile stitched or glued on the first face of the textile support.
 6. The electrical active unit according to claim 2, wherein the first and/or second connection wires are disposed on the first face of the textile support, and maintained in position by an adhesive piece on said first face.
 7. The electrical active unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted for being connected wirelessly to the power source and/or the controlling unit.
 8. The electrical active unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is coated in an adhesive material and sandwiched in an adhesive tape, and the textile support comprises on its first face an adhesive patch, the sensor being attached on said adhesive patch.
 9. The electrical active unit according to claim 1, wherein the connection point comprises a first metallic piece disposed on the first face of the textile support, and the electrical active unit comprises a second metallic piece disposed on the second face of the textile support and covered by an electrically non-conductive patch, the first and second metallic pieces being crimped with one another.
 10. The electrical active unit according to claim 9, wherein the connection point comprises an adhesive electrically conducting patch disposed between the first metallic piece and the active element.
 11. The electrical active unit according to 1, for emitting heat in order to regulate the temperature of a body, wherein the active element is a heating element, the sensor is a temperature sensor, the heating element comprising electrically conductive yarns knitted with the textile yarns of the textile support so as to form the determined pattern on the first and second faces of the textile support.
 12. Textile element adapted to be worn by at least a part of a body, wherein said textile element comprises an electrical active unit for generating a physical effect, comprising a textile support supporting: at least one active element adapted for generating said physical effect at least one electrical connection point adapted to be connected to a power source and a controlling unit, and located on said active element at least one sensor-adapted for being connected to the power source and the controlling unit, such that the electrical active unit may be connected to the power source and the controlling unit via the connection point in order to allow the powering of the active element by the power source and the activation/deactivation of said active element by the controlling unit depending on data sensed by the sensor, wherein the textile support has a first face and a second face opposite to said first face, the at least one connection point being located solely on the first face, the active element being embedded in the textile support so as to form a determined pattern on the first and second faces.
 13. Textile element according to claim 12, wherein the textile support is a part of said textile element.
 14. Textile element according to claim 13, said textile element having an inner face adapted to be oriented towards at least a part of a body wearing said textile element, and an outer face opposite to said inner face, wherein the textile support is attached through its first or second faces to said inner, respectively outer, faces of the textile element, such that the active element and the sensor may be oriented towards, respectively opposite with respect to said textile element, said part of the body wearing said textile element, and that the connection point may be oriented towards the inner, respectively outer, face of the textile element.
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)
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 18. (canceled)
 19. A method for fabricating an electrical active unit adapted for generating a physical effect, the method comprising: embedding an active element, adapted for generating said physical effect, into a textile support; attaching an electrical connection point, adapted to be connected to a power source and a controlling unit, to the textile support so as said connection point be located on said active element; attaching a sensor, adapted to be connected to the power source and the controlling unit, to the textile support, such that the electrical active unit may be connected to the power source and the controlling unit via the connection point in order to allow the powering of the active element by the power source and the activation/deactivation of said active element by the controlling unit depending on data sensed by the sensor, wherein the textile support has a first face and a second face opposite to said first face, the at least one connection point being attached to the textile support so as to be located solely on the first face, and the active element being embedded in the textile support so as to form a determined pattern on the first and second faces.
 20. Method according to claim 19, the active element being a heating element, the sensor being a temperature sensor, wherein embedding the active element into the textile support comprises knitting electrically conductive yarns and textile yarns to form the textile support with the heating element as the determined pattern on the first and second faces of said textile support.
 21. Method according to claim 20, wherein attaching the temperature sensor to the textile support comprises attaching said sensor to the heating element.
 22. Method according to claim 21, wherein attaching the attaching said sensor to the heating element comprises coating the sensor into an adhesive material, sandwiching the sensor in an adhesive tape, attaching to the first face of the textile support an adhesive patch, and attaching the sensor on said adhesive patch.
 23. Method according to claim 19, wherein the physical effect is heat, cold or light emission.
 24. Textile element according to claim 12, wherein said textile element is a clothing, garment or cover.
 25. The electrical active unit according to claim 3, wherein the first and/or second connection wires are stitched on the first face of the textile.
 26. The electrical active unit according to claim 3, wherein the first and/or second wires are covered with a piece of textile stitched or glued on the first face of the textile support.
 27. The electrical active unit according to claim 3, wherein the first and/or second connection wires are disposed on the first face of the textile support and maintained in position by an adhesive piece on said first face. 